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INFO LETTER
Fruit, vegetables and potatoes
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Issue: 02/2012
Quality Assurance.
From farm to shop.
PORTRAIT
PETER FEHMEL FAVOURS THE QUALITY ASSURANCE INITIATIVE
QS has optimized its web pages for users
with mobile phones with internet capa-
bility. A leaner design shortens loading
times and enables a faster page build-up.
In this way, QS has also made it possible
to access information in the internet from
a mobile phone via QR codes. QR codes are
becoming more and more commonplace.
They have a rectangular pattern and are being
printed more and more on flyers and posters.
QR (quick response) codes encrypt informati-
on or links to websites which can be quickly
and easily accessed by mobile devices. The
prerequisite for this is a functional mobile pho-
ne camera and a small program on the phone
(app) which decodes the QR code.
Originally developed for use in logistics, QR
codes are also being used for communica-
tion nowadays. They supplement the range
of available information by referring users to
more detailed websites, such as that of QS. In
this way, customers in food retail outlets can
acquire information while still in the shop on
such things as the QS certification mark and
the commitment of trade and industry to safe
food.
In the meantime there is also information on
quality assurance with meat and vegetables.
After accessing the corresponding site via the
QR code (see below), users can click on other
online offers as required. QS intends to further
develop this area of its online communication,
thus expanding the service range for its sche-
me participants.
If you have any ques-
tions of suggestions,
Mr. Stefan Martin
,
Head of Sales and
Marketing at QS,
would be pleased to
answer them.
QR-Codes
INFORMATION OFFER GOES MOBILE
Consumer communication at QS is building
up a head of steam. The website of the EU-
funded campaign “QS-live. Quality Assu-
rance Initiative“ has been online since Fe-
bruary. As the very latest development, the
site has now been switched fully online with
lots of information, photo and film material
and many interactive elements.
The goal of the campaign is to increase aware-
ness of the QS certification mark among consu-
mers and anchor it as a trustworthy signal for safe
food. All QS scheme participants who use the test
mark to communicate the quality of their own
produce will benefit from this.
With the new website, the initiative is now targe-
ting a much wider public in the internet. In future,
representatives of all production stages will be
reporting there on their commitment to ensuring
quality and food safety. We are pleased that with
Peter Fehmel, a down-to-earth representative of
the sector from the Palatinate region is making a
stand for the production of fruit and vegetables.
Other representatives are Jennifer Bauder (trai-
nee in the food retail sector), Josef Schöberl (catt-
le farmer from Bavaria), and Franz-Josef Seibold
(butcher) who are permitting an insight into their
daily work.
In addition to this, rural woman and nutritionist
Lore Mauler is keeping a diary in the internet. In
her blog, she gives consumers valuable tips on
how to handle fresh foods.
Click into it at
www.qs-live.de
.
“Consumers must be
made aware again
of the significance
of agriculture for the
production of safe
foods,” says Peter
Fehmel, who is parti-
cipating in “QS-live.
Quality Assurance Ini-
tiative” as a represen-
tative of the production of vegetables.
Fehmel’s vegetable business is situated in the
Palatinate, near Ludwigshafen. On an area of
roughly 200 hectares, master horticulturalist
Peter Fehmel and his employees grow radishes,
spring onions, carrots, kohlrabi and napa cabba-
ge among other things. Since 1999, he has also
had two hectares under glass. On the business
management side, he receives a lot of support
from his wife and one of his three sons, and
quality is the order of the day for the managing
director. The investments made in a continuous
cool chain with extensive picking and refrigera-
tion areas underscore this intention. The quali-
ty and durability of products have top priority,
according to Peter Fehmel, along with short
delivery times, which is why participation in the
QS scheme is only logical for this medium-size
enterprise. Successful participation is documen-
ted every year by the QS-GAP certificate. Peter
Fehmel explains his willingness to participate in
the “QS-live” information campaign by his con-
viction that something has to be done to coun-
teract
scandal
journalism. “Real
crises are the
exception;
the
products on offer
in the food retail
sector nowadays
have never been so safe,” he emphasizes. Con-
sumers must be made more aware, however, of
what is being done every day in farming busi-
nesses everywhere to ensure the production of
safe food. With the QS certification mark, consu-
mers have the certainty that this will remain so.
If you want to find out more about Peter Fehmel
and his commitment to safe food, you can get
to know him in the internet at
www.qs-live.de
.
QS-Live
CONSUMER COMMUNICATION GATHERING MOMENTUM
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CONSUMER COMMUNICATION
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